Ballon d'Or Dream Team

The Ballon d'Or Dream Team is an all-time all-star team published by France Football on 14 December 2020 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a football dream team starting from October 2020.[1][2][3] The final team was selected by 140 France Football correspondents around the world.[4][5] A second and a third team were also published.[6][7]

Nominations

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The nominations were announced from 5 October 2020 through 19 October 2020. The winners were revealed on 14 December 2020 and lined up in a 3–4–3 formation.[8] Brazil was the country with the highest number of nominated players (20 athletes), ahead of Italy (16), Germany (13), Netherlands (12), Spain (8), England and France (7).

Goalkeepers

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Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or

The nominations for the goalkeepers were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Gordon Banks 1955–1978   Leicester City (356) 7th in 1972
  Gianluigi Buffon 1995–2023   Juventus (674) 2nd in 2006
  Iker Casillas 1999–2019   Real Madrid (725) 4th in 2008
  Sepp Maier 1962–1979   Bayern Munich (651) 5th in 1975
  Manuel Neuer 2005–present   Bayern Munich (403) 3rd in 2014
  Thomas N'Kono 1974–1997   Espanyol (234) Not eligible[note 1]
  Peter Schmeichel 1981–2003   Manchester United (398) 5th in 1992
  Edwin van der Sar 1991–2011   Ajax (312) 24th in 2008
  Lev Yashin 1950–1970   Dynamo Moscow (326) Winner in 1963
  Dino Zoff 1961–1983   Juventus (479) 2nd in 1973

Right-backs

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Cafu, the only footballer to have appeared in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals

The nominations for the right-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Giuseppe Bergomi 1980–1999   Inter Milan (757)
  Cafu 1989–2008   São Paulo (255) 15th in 2002
  Carlos Alberto 1963–1981   Santos (445) Not eligible[note 1]
  Djalma Santos 1948–1970   Palmeiras (498) Not eligible[note 1]
  Claudio Gentile 1972–1988   Juventus (417)
  Manfred Kaltz 1971–1990   Hamburger SV (724)
  Philipp Lahm 2002–2017   Bayern Munich (517) 6th in 2014
  Wim Suurbier 1964–1982   Ajax (279)
  Lilian Thuram 1991–2008   Parma (228) 7th in 1998
  Berti Vogts 1965–1979   Borussia Mönchengladbach (528) 4th in 1975

Centre-backs

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The nominations for the centre-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Franco Baresi 1978–1997   Milan (719) 2nd in 1989
  Franz Beckenbauer 1964–1983   Bayern Munich (575) Winner in 1972 and 1976
  Fabio Cannavaro 1992–2011   Parma (288) Winner in 2006
  Marcel Desailly 1986–2005   Chelsea (222) 8th in 1996
  Ronald Koeman 1980–1997   Barcelona (264) 5th in 1988
  Bobby Moore 1958–1978   West Ham United (647) 2nd in 1970
  Daniel Passarella 1974–1989   River Plate (291) Not eligible[note 1]
  Sergio Ramos 2004–present   Real Madrid (660) 6th in 2017
  Matthias Sammer 1985–1998   Borussia Dortmund (153) Winner in 1996
  Gaetano Scirea 1972–1988   Juventus (554) 12th in 1982

Left-backs

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The nominations for the left-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Andreas Brehme 1980–1998   1. FC Kaiserslautern (237) 3rd in 1990
  Paul Breitner 1970–1983   Bayern Munich (347) 2nd in 1981
  Antonio Cabrini 1975–1991   Juventus (442) 13th in 1978
  Giacinto Facchetti 1961–1978   Inter Milan (639) 2nd in 1965
  Júnior 1974–1993   Flamengo (417) Not eligible[note 1]
  Ruud Krol 1968–1986   Ajax (457) 3rd in 1979
  Paolo Maldini 1985–2009   Milan (902) 3rd in 1994 and 2003
  Marcelo 2005–present   Real Madrid (514) 16th in 2017
  Nílton Santos 1948–1964   Botafogo (485) Not eligible[note 1]
  Roberto Carlos 1991–2012   Real Madrid (527) 2nd in 2002

Defensive midfielders/Centre midfielders

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The nominations for the defensive midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  József Bozsik 1943–1962   Budapest Honvéd (447) 6th in 1956
  Sergio Busquets 2007–present   Barcelona (591) 20th in 2012
  Didi 1946–1967   Fluminense (150) Not eligible[note 1]
  Paulo Roberto Falcão 1973–1986   Internacional (157) Not eligible[note 1]
  Steven Gerrard 1998–2016   Liverpool (710) 3rd in 2005
  Gérson 1959–1974   Botafogo (243) Not eligible[note 1]
  Pep Guardiola 1988–2006   Barcelona (382) 24th in 1994
  Josef Masopust 1950–1970   Dukla Prague (430) Winner in 1962
  Lothar Matthäus 1979–2000   Bayern Munchen (406) Winner in 1990
  Johan Neeskens 1968–1991   Barcelona (181) 5th in 1974
  Andrea Pirlo 1995–2017   Milan (401) 5th in 2007
  Fernando Redondo 1985–2004   Real Madrid (228) 18th in 2000
  Frank Rijkaard 1980–1995   Ajax (336) 3rd in 1988 and 1989
  Bernd Schuster 1978–1997   Barcelona (238) 2nd in 1980
  Clarence Seedorf 1992–2014   Milan (432) 17th in 1997
  Luis Suárez 1951–1973   Inter Milan (333) Winner in 1960
  Marco Tardelli 1972–1988   Juventus (379) 15th in 1982
  Jean Tigana 1975–1991   Bordeaux (371) 2nd in 1984
  Xabi Alonso 2000–2017   Real Madrid (236) 10th in 2010
  Xavi 1997–2019   Barcelona (767) 3rd in 2009, 2010 and 2011

Attacking midfielders/Inside Forwards

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The nominations for the offensive midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Roberto Baggio 1983–2004   Juventus (200) Winner in 1993
  Bobby Charlton 1956–1976   Manchester United (758) Winner in 1966
  Alfredo Di Stéfano 1945–1966   Real Madrid (396) Winner Super Ballon d'Or in 1989[9]

Winner in 1957 and 1959

  Enzo Francescoli 1980–1997   River Plate (233) Not eligible[note 1]
  Ruud Gullit 1979–1998   Milan (171) Winner in 1987
  Gheorghe Hagi 1982–2001   Galatasaray (192) 4th in 1994
  Andrés Iniesta 2002–present   Barcelona (674) 2nd in 2010
  Raymond Kopa 1949–1968   Reims (463) Winner in 1958
  László Kubala 1945–1967   Barcelona (256) 5th in 1957
  Diego Maradona 1976–1997   Napoli (259) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 1995[10]

Winner in 1986 and 1990[11]

  Sandro Mazzola 1961–1977   Inter Milan (570) 2nd in 1971
  Pelé 1957–1977   Santos (656) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 2013

Winner in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1970[11]

  Michel Platini 1973–1987   Juventus (224) Winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985
  Ferenc Puskás 1943–1966   Budapest Honvéd (358) 2nd in 1960
  Gianni Rivera 1959–1979   Milan (658) Winner in 1969
  Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1945–1962   Peñarol (227) Not eligible[note 1]
  Sócrates 1974–1989   Corinthians (269) Not eligible[note 1]
  Francesco Totti 1993–2017   Roma (786) 5th in 2001
  Zico 1971–1994   Flamengo (505) Not eligible[note 1]
  Zinedine Zidane 1989–2006   Real Madrid (231) Winner in 1998

Right wingers

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The nominations for the right wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  David Beckham 1992–2013   Manchester United (394) 2nd in 1999
  George Best 1963–1984   Manchester United (473) Winner in 1968
  Samuel Eto'o 1997–2019   Barcelona (199) 5th in 2009
  Luís Figo 1990–2009   Barcelona (249) Winner in 2000
  Garrincha 1953–1972   Botafogo (325) Winner in 1962[11]
  Jairzinho 1962–1983   Botafogo (413) Not eligible[note 1]
  Kevin Keegan 1968–1984   Liverpool (321) Winner in 1978 and 1979
  Stanley Matthews 1932–1965   Blackpool (428) Winner in 1956
  Lionel Messi 2003–present   Barcelona (778) Winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023
  Arjen Robben 2000–2021   Bayern Munich (309) 4th in 2014

Centre-forward

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The nominations for the center-forward were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Dennis Bergkamp 1986–2006   Arsenal (423) 2nd in 1993
  Johan Cruyff 1964–1984   Ajax (367) Winner in 1971, 1973 and 1974
  Kenny Dalglish 1969–1990   Liverpool (502) 2nd in 1983
  Eusébio 1957–1978   Benfica (440) Winner in 1965
  Sándor Kocsis 1946–1966   Barcelona (265) 8th in 1956
  Gerd Müller 1963–1982   Bayern Munich (612) Winner in 1970
  Romário 1985–2009   Vasco da Gama (350) Winner in 1994[11]
  Ronaldo 1993–2011   Real Madrid (177) Winner in 1997 and 2002
  Marco van Basten 1981–1995   Milan (201) Winner in 1988, 1989 and 1992
  George Weah 1987–2001   Milan (147) Winner in 1995

Left wingers

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The nominations for the left wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
  Oleg Blokhin 1969–1990   Dynamo Kyiv (585) Winner in 1975
  Cristiano Ronaldo 2002–present   Real Madrid (438) Winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017
  Dragan Džajić 1962–1978   Red Star Belgrade (615) 3rd in 1968
  Ryan Giggs 1991–2014   Manchester United (963) 9th in 1993
  Thierry Henry 1994–2014   Arsenal (377) 2nd in 2003
  Rivaldo 1989–2015   Barcelona (235) Winner in 1999
  Rivellino 1965–1981   Corinthians (474) Not eligible[note 1]
  Ronaldinho 1998–2015   Barcelona (207) Winner in 2005
  Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1974–1989   Bayern Munich (422) Winner in 1980 and 1981
  Hristo Stoichkov 1982–2003   Barcelona (267) Winner in 1994

Selected teams

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Up until 1995, the Ballon d'Or was only awarded to European players.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : La piste aux étoiles de FF". France Football (in French). 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. ^ "France Football presents the Ballon d'Or Dream Team". Marca. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : la liste de tous les nommés pour ce onze de légende". France Football (in French). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Ronaldinho up for Dream Team place". Diario AS. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  5. ^ Crépin, Timothé (14 December 2020). "Ballon d'Or Dream Team: Découvrez les révélations de ce onze de légende !". France Football (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Ballon d'Or Dream Team: Xavi alongside Messi and Cristiano". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Riaz, Adnan (22 October 2020). "Full List Of 110 Nominees For France Football's 'Ballon d'Or Dream Team' Have Been Revealed". SPORTbible. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Real Madrid: 21 años del único Súper Balón de Oro de la historia" Archived 14 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Goal.com. (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 July 2014
  10. ^ Combien de Ballon(s) d'Or France Football aurait pu remporter Diego Maradona ? BALLON D'OR FRANCE FOOTBALL 30 octobre 2020
  11. ^ a b c d Marchand, Thierry (December 2015). "On a refait le palmarès". France Football. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  NODES
INTERN 2
Note 18